Improvement in carriage-tops



W. E. TALLMAN.

CARRIAGE-TOP.

Patented J'an.9,1877.

Invenor' Wtne-sa e-s:

UNITED STATES WILLIAM E. TALLMAN, OF HOMER, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN CARRIAGE-TOPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 186,047, dated January 9, 1877; application filed April 5, 1876.

To-all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. TALLMAN, of Homer, in the county of Cortland and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Carriage-Tops, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention consists of certain new improvements in carriage-tops, confined to the side and back curtains, their hangings and fixtures.

The upper part of the top or canopy A is of oriental or other tasty shape, of broad projecting surface, with rounded corners, and mounted upon two standards, B B, in front, situated one upon each side of the seat, and another in the back, fastened at the base into the top of the back of the seat, which lastmentioned standard is hidden from view in the drawing by the rollers c c. A metallic rod or large wire, a, is bent around the back of the seat, curved agreeably to the shape of the carriage-back, the ends being fastened and kept in place at or near the front standards B B. Another similar rod or wire, I), with the same curvatures, and running parallel with the rod a, is situated directly over it, with the ends fastened at or near the top of the standards B B, and a central fastening at the top of the back standard, so as to keep it firmly supported up close to the canopy A. The side and back curtains are divided at the back into two sections, each mounted, and fastened above and below, upon the two curved rods ttand b, with small curtain-rings at short distances from each other, the back central edges being tacked up and down to the out side of the back standard. The side curtains, hung with rings, will then run easily back and forth upon the rods a b, and may be drawn up on each side to the standards B B, and fastened, thus perfectly closing up the back and sides of the carriage-top or, they may be shoved back at pleasure on each side, thus leaving the sides and back open. And, to facilitate the working of these curtains, springs are used as follows: Two curtain-rollers, c c, worked with springs, are fastened in a perpendicular position, side by side, at the back side of the carriage-top, just outside of the rods 11 and b, the upper ends being secured in the outer back edge of the solid material of the roof or covering A, and the lower ends resting upon, and secured to, a base, 11, projecting out from the back of the seat. A cord is then fastened near each end of each curtain roller. These cords are then run through the curtain-rings, following along the bars a and b, to the front edges of the curtains to which they are there attached.

Thus having properly mounted the rollers, the curtains can be easily hauled forward and hitched by means of a hook to the standards B B; and, to open the sides of the carriage, the curtains are unfastened from the standards B B, when they are instantly drawn back and retained in position by the force of the springs.

The curtains do not roll up on the rollers, but are shirred up into a small space.

In place of the curtain-rollers 00, any other available springs may be used, such as coiled wire, steel-wire curtain-springs, or clock or watch springs, with chain or cord running upon a disk, for the purpose of regulating and holding the curtains; or, firm elastic rubber cords may be used for the same purpose, fastened at or near the back standard, running along the rods a and b through the curtain-rings, and fastened to the front edges of the curtains.

The curtains when hauled back, together with the springs, are hid from view by a narrow leather or other carriage-covering, which hangs from the back part of the top A, and is fastened to the back side of the projection 11, and, by another inside covering of about the same size, hanging from the roof A, to the back of the seat, permanently fastened.

In the drawing, D represents one section of the curtain partly drawn forward.

I claim as my invention- 1. The side curtains D, for a carriage-top, fastened at the back standard, in combination with the bent rods a and 12, upon which they are mounted, with curtain rings or loops, both at the top and bottom, so as to slide backward and forward, made substantially as and for the purposes above described.

2. The combination of the perpendicular curtain rollers or springs c 0, attached to the curtains with cords, made substantially as and for the purposes above described.

WILLIAM E. TALLMAN.

Witnesses:

JOHN B. FINoH, GEORGE W. LEWIS. 

